As mentioned in a post earlier this week, Kathy accidentally took my notes about last Friday night's game session of the Coriolis - The Third Horizon campaign, so I've not been able to post up said blog report. Well, Kathy dropped off the notes for me on her way home from work yesterday (Wednesday), so I've got them. The Friday night group continued on with their campaign of the Coriolis - The Third Horizon</i> RPG of Arabian Nights in space last week (April 14th). You can read about the previous game session by following the link. This post is somewhat long, so I've put it behind a cut for those who don't want to read about my roleplaying game campaigns.

Naima Saab regards Blake Harold and asks him what he thinks of the person who's been following them. He tells her that he can't get a good look at the figure; whoever it is is adept at clandestine activities, and is using the crowds to good advantage. Hafisa darRouash says that they're either working for the people behind what happened to Tafik (Sharoun)'s colleague, or perhaps just some locals keeping an eye on the characters. Naima snorts with mirth at this, but doesn't say more. The characters and Blake go to the house of Sumala Fadros, and after talking to her daughter, Halima, are permitted to visit her. Naima can see that the woman is still in bad shape after the attack, and they approach her with gentleness, explaining they're friends of Professor Sharoun. Halima stays in the small room as Sumala tells them what happened, to the best of her recollection. She was returning home from the souk after making some food purchases when a man with a hooded caftan (so she couldn't see his face) approached her, and threatened her family if she didn't stop working for Professor ibn Salumar. Naima interrupts to ask if she got a look at his face at any point, and she says that she did; she couldn't make out a lot of detail, but he had the tattoo of the Messenger on his left cheek. He didn't threaten her at all physically, but did say that if she didn't heed his warning, "she would be next". She didn't know what that meant until after she learned that the Professor was missing; she believes him to be dead. Te next thing she knew all Darkness broke loose as the gunfight erupted and the last thing she remembers was two bad stings and then the pain before she blacked out. When Naima and Hafisa both comment that she was caught in the crossfire of an attack by two rival faction gangs in the city's slums, not as she describes it, Sumala says that she has no idea what they're talking about. They try to talk to her about the discrepancies in her story, but Sumala is obviously not healthy enough for them to press her, and Halima asks them to leave. They do so, reluctantly, and once outside the Fadros home, discuss the matter and realise that something very wrong and odd is going on here, with all sorts of possible reasons for what Sumala Fadros told them, including the fact that she's lying to them.

Moustafa Harouz and Zouma Abid-Arif reach Bastak's, and find that it lives up to its reputation, in all respects. The two note that they still have their tail, and Moustafa comments that he wonders how long it will be before the tail takes action. Bastik the Giant is a fair merchant, and offers the characters some decent trinkets and the like; in addition to the purchase of the trinkets, Moustafa also purchases some 2,000 birr worth of spare parts for the Ruby Flower. Bastak agrees to have the spare parts and the trinkets transported over to the Ruby Flower, for a modest fee, and because he likes them offers the characters a bit of advice: He's heard rumours that someone is buying up all kinds of tools and equipment for an expedition down to Mira's surface. Rumour has it that whoever it is has connections to the Colonial Agency. Zouma recalls that the Colonial Agency has a facility down on Mira; she tells Moustafa the information. The two bid farewell to Bastak, and step out back into the somewhat boisterous market area.

In Darisa Marakis's office, Tafik Sharoun looks over the information that is available about matters on Mira pertaining to Professor Darfal ibn Salumar. He learns the professor was exploring and working in a new supposed Portal Builder set of ruins recently uncovered on the relatively unexplored southern continent. Early indications are that the ruins were subterranean, but Professor ibn Salumar was quite secretive about matters (understandably, from Tafik's perspective), and very little information has gotten out. Tafik is able to determine that the professor's expedition sponsors were the Foundation, something that grates on Tafik given that he is Firstcome. He wonders whether his personal nemesis, Rostami Haroum, might be involved, but doubts it; Rostami has now reason to be here, now. For more information on the expedition, he learns that the Foundation representative, Sariha Milmasine, should be contacted. He checks on her location, and is surprised to learn that she works out of the Foundation's office on Mira. He decides a visit to M. Milmasine may be appropriate, but wants to talk to Darisa Marakis again, to see what light she can shed on the Foundation's presence on Mira.

Outside the Fadros home, Naima and Hafisa decide what to do, while a somewhat bemused Blake waits for some answers. As they talk to Blake, Naima casually mentions that their follower is still watching them. Trying to get a closer glimpse at him or her, Naima spots that he's got the tattoo of the Messenger on the left side of his face [she rolled 5 successes, including spending a Darkness Point!]. The characters realise this is the same man that threatened Sumala Fadros! The two women decide they want to chat with this man, and both of them race off in the direction of the fellow. The man sees the two women running towards him, and draws an accelerator pistol. When they see him aiming it at them, Naima and Hafisa shout a warning to other passersby in the neighbourhood, and split up as they seek cover. What follows is a mad dash and chase through the residential area, the man firing several shots at them (to no effect, fortunately). As they reach the market area, the man is able to disappear into the crowds and then narrow alleyways of the souk before they can catch him. Both women are panting, and Naima says to Hafisa, "Remind me to do so physical training and exercise, 'cause I'm out of shape for sure!" Hafisa just remarks that it seems they both are. Blake comes up to them with two Miran security guards, and says that he wants to talk to them about the complaints that have just been registered against them. Hafisa and Naima regard one another, and burst out giggling.

In the marketplace of the station, Moustafa and Zouma decide that they can still undertake some supplies (and a bit of cargo) acquisition. Zouma says they also need to make arrangements in the spaceport for some of the ship repairs to be made, and they need some of those replacement parts as well. Moustafa says that their tail is still watching them, and Zouma cheekily waves at him; the man vanishes among the crowded stalls. About an hour later, the two emerge from Chapitra's, one of the better retailer of starship parts, pleased with their deal for 8,000 birr for engine parts that will be delivered to the Ruby Flower within the hour. As the two head back towards the docks, they are attacked in one of the quieter sections by a pair of ruffians wearing simple station clothes, and using dura knives. Moustafa, armed with a mercurium dagger, and Zouma, armed with a dura knife, take on the pair of thugs, who are obviously out for a quick birr, and manage to dispatch them [although they use 5 Darkness Points!]. The station guards arrive on the scene, and after the events are quickly determined (after the testimony of two witnesses), Zouma and Moustafa are let go, while the two thugs are taken into custody. Arriving at the docks finally, it is with sighs of relief that both characters spot the Ruby Flower at its berth.

Last Friday night's game session of the Coriolis - The Third Horizon campaign was an interesting one for me, as well as being quite enjoyable. There were a couple of physical combats that went pretty quickly (for combat sessions in rpgs) as well as some good roleplaying amongst the player characters and between them and several of the NPCs in the adventure, and this had me quite happy during the evening. The players seemed to enjoy themselves quite a lot, and rather liked some of the events that went on, Angela admitting to me that she's baffled where the plot's going and who those "shadowy pursuers" are. Excellent! ::rubbing of hands together::